Truss-pad.



F. E. MILLER.

muss PAQ. APPLlCATlON FILED AUG.22. 19|?.

Patented Apr. 23, 1918.`

narran snarns rarnnr ernten.

FRANK E. MILLER, 0F NEW YRK, N. Y.

TRUSS-PAD.

Application filed August 22, 191'?.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, FRANK E. MiLLER, al citizen of the United States, residing at 17 West 54th street, New York city, N. Y., have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Truss-Pads, of which the following is a clear, full, and exact description.

rfhis invention relates to improvements in truss pads and one of the objects of the invention is to provide a trusspad which is especially adapted for umbilical hernia. Another object of the invention is to provide a truss pad which is reversible, so that either side of said pad may constitute the direct pressure member against the body to press the ruptured parts into position. Another object of the invention is t0 provide a truss pad which is light in weight and easily adjustable and which is thoroughly practical and efficient for the purpose for which it is intended. A

These being among the obj ects of the present invention, the same consists of certain features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and then claimed with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating a desirable embodiment of the invention and in which- Figure 1 is a fragment of a belt, bandage or corset showing one of the improved pads in dotted lines positioned therein;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing more clearly the preferred construction of means for positioning the truss pad;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of a truss pad in accordance with the present invention i Fig. 4: is a section on the-line 4--Ll, Fig. 3, viewed in the direction of the arrow;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section through one of the padmembers, on the line .fi- 5, Fig. 3, viewed in the direction of the arrow; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the belt or the like, showing one of the improved truss pads in elevation, the same being positioned for use.

Referring to Figs. l and 2, a fragment of `a belt, bandage, corset or the like l0, which .is adapted to support the improved truss pad or pads, is shown, the same preferably comprising two layers 11, 12, of fabric, the layer 11 being that which is applied directly against the body of the wearer and the layer 12 being the outer layer which is out out so as to provide a flap 13 for closinga pocket 1li, whichis disposed between said Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 23, i913..

Serial No. 187,514.

flap and the inner layer of fabric 11. The side edges of the flap or closure 13 may be stitched or otherwise secured to the edge surrounding the pocket 14, after the pad 16 has been placed in the desired position for use. The pad 16 is shown in dotted lines in Fig. l.

.lhe details of the preferred construction of truss pad in accordance with the present invention, are shown in Figs. 8, 4 and 5. llhe pad 16 comprises two pad members 17, 18, each of which is preferably of the same outline and contour as the other so that they are substantially identical. Said pad meinbers are provided with conical outer surfaces which preferably eXtend continuously from the apices 17, 18, of the pad members to the margins thereof. Said pad members are placed bac-k to back, as shown in Fig. 3,

so that the conical outer surfaces and the apices are presented outwardly away from each other, and suitable means are provided for maintaining the said parts in that position. To this end, there are preferably located on the adjacent inner sides of the pad members two threaded sockets 19, 20, said sockets being' so placed that they are on a transverse axis passing through the apices 17, 18a, when the two pad members are connected together, as by a screw spindle or stem 21. The spindle 21 is provided with threads of different hand, and 22 may indicate a right hand thread and 23 a left hand thread located at opposite ends of said spindle, and said threads engage corresponding screw threads of the sockets 19, 20, respectively. For enabling the rotation of said screw spindle, a nut or wrench head 2e' may be located between the screw threaded portions 22, 23, which will thereby be located between the two pad members 17, 18, or in the gap between said members. Said head 24 may be engaged by a wrench or other hand toolv for rotating the screw spindle 21 in one or the other direction, for the purpose of adjusting the pad members relatively to each other. It will be seen that the conical outer surfaces of the pad members are so slanted that the apices 17a, 18a, will be located about oneethird of the way from one end ofthe truss pad, and hence the adjustweight, and some non-oxidizable metal is preferably employed which is not injured by the `perspiration or acids from the body, and when said pads are made of sheet metal t-hey will therefore be formed with hollows 25, 26 at their inner sides, in which the adjusting means described will be located.

In order to hold the truss pads in parallelism and thereby to provide a symmetrical vtruss pad, a pin 27 may be riveted or otherwise secured at 28 to the inner surface of pad member 18, while va guide 29 is secured to the inner side of thc pad member 17,' said parts being arranged parallel with the transverse axis passing through the apio-es of the conical surfaces, and constitute a telescopic connection between the pad members.

In Fig. 6 the using position of the truss Y pad is illustrated, said pad being shown as Y'sure for their relief and eventual cure.

a aplied to the belt, bandage, etc., l0. Y It is placed in the pocket 14C so that one of the points or rapices 17L or 18a will be pointed directly toward' the body of the wearer, while the other apex will point in opposite direction. As this truss pad is preferably used for umbilical hernia, the inner point toward the body is to be engaged with the umbilicus, and here the Vgreatest pressure will be applied, said pressure gradually decreasing toward the outer ends of the truss pad, thereby assuring that the --ruptured parts will receive the mostV favorableplrest is clear that the improved truss pad can be applied in any desired position for use, as it is only'necessary to rst place it in the desired position in the belt or bandage and it is then secured in that position if desired by attaching the edges of the flap 13 to the belt. `When the belt or the like is applied the truss pad will then apply the. proper pressure at the proper location in the manner desired. ,It is obvious that the improved truss pad'- can bev reversed, as either pad member; can constitute a direct pressure member. Other advantages will be obvious to wearers ofrtrusses and especially to physicians and surgeons.V It is obvious that the said pad can be cheaply manufactured, inasmuch as it vconstitutes a bicuspid insert. delvice requiring no specially constructed parts to hold the pad in lposition for use.

It is obvious that the belt, bandage or the like which is to carry the pad can be made of any Vsuitable construction with a view to providing means for readily attaching and positioning the pad for use. If the construction of the belt or the like shown in the drawings is used, the outer layer of fabric should constitute the medium for pressing on the pad, as in this case the inner layer of VGO fabric simply constitutes a protecting medium between the pad and body and should probably not be under tension.

It is obvious that the invention is susceptible to' modification as parts maybe omitted, added and substituted without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is:

1. In a truss pad, the combination of two separate, back opposed, pad members, provided with conical outer surfaces, the apices of which are located on an axis transverse of said members, and means for adjusting said members to vary their distance apart.

2. In a truss pad, the combination of two opposed pad menibers, provided with conical outer surfaces, the apicesof which are located on an axis transverse of said members, but which is lconsiderably nearer one end of said members than the other end, and said conical surfaces slanting from said apices to the margins of said members, and means for adjusting said members to vary their distance apart.

3. In a truss pad, the combination of two separate pad members, the outward surfaces of which are oppositely raised and the high points of which surfaces arc located on a transverse axis of said members, a rotary stem having opposite screw threads at its ends, oppositely threaded portions at the inner sides of said members engaged by the appropriate threaded ends of said stem, and means for turning said stem to adjust said members.

4. Ina truss pad, the combination of two separate pad members, the outward surfaces of which are oppositely raised and the high vpoints of which surfaces are located on a transverse axis of said members, a rotary stem having opposite screw threads at its ends, oppositely threaded portions at the inner sides of said members engaged by the appropriate threaded ends of said stem, and a head on said stem, in the space between said members for engagement by an operating tool.

5. In a truss pad, the combination of two separate 'pad members, the outward surfaces of which are oppositely raised and the high points of which surfaces are located on a transverse axis of said members, a rotary stem having opposite screw threads at its ends, oppositely threaded portions at the inner sides of said members engaged by the appropriate threaded ends of said stem, said pad members being hollow, and said threaded portions. located in the said hollows and along said axis, and means for turning said stem to adjust said members.

6. In a truss pad, the combination of two separate elongated pad members having oppositely presented high points located on an axis offset from the midlengths of said members, and the outer surfaces of said members being on a slope from said high points to the margins of said members, and in all other respects said members having substantially the same shape and dimensions so that they are substantially identical, means for ad- IOT) 1,263,455 lllilll justably connecting said members, and means for 4holding said members in relatively fixed position laterally, to provide a symmetrical truss pad.

7. In a truss pad, the combination With supporting means such as a belt, of a reversible pad of iirm material comprising two substantially similar pressure pad-members arranged symmetrically back to back, and having unyielding oppositely presented high points at their outermost surfaces, said pad-members being adjustable to or from each other While maintaining their said symmetrical relationship, and said pad being held in the desired position by the teni5 @oplei o1' this potent may be obtained for tive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of retentir, Washington, D. C." 

